Nigeria, June 4 -- If you've heard of Dead Aid, the influential book by economist Dambisa Moyo, you'll know it challenges the long-held belief that foreign aid is the key to Africa's development. For me, I would say it's one of the most insightful books I've ever read, having read it for the first time as a senior in high school. Moyo argues that aid has often done more harm than good, as it creates dependency, stifles innovation, and slows down growth.

So if aid isn't the answer, what is?

The Problem with Aid Dependency

For decades, many African countries have relied heavily on foreign aid to fund everything from healthcare to infrastructure. Between 2000 and 2018 alone, Africa received about $1 trillion in foreign aid. While this aid...